Billy Barnette arrived in Hollywood in August, 1964. He had an appointment with Johnny Burnette, who had just started his own label. Remembered mainly as the crooner of hits like “Dreamin'” and “You're Sixteen,” Johnny, along with his brother Dorsey is more admired for earlier Rockabilly records. Flops at the time, they are now considered the best of the ilk. “You look enough like me to be my brother,” were Burnette's first words to Barnette. And so a plan developed to record the youngest “brother”, and on that day Billy Joe Burnette was born. Johnny was to go on a fishing trip the next day and upon his return the work would begin. On that trip Johnny Burnette died. A larger vessel hit his boat in Clear Lake, CA and he fell overboard and drowned. But the new family member got to do a record. Dorsey saw that Johnny's promise was kept. Magic Lamp Records then became dormant, leaving nobody to push the first release by Billy Joe Burnette. But this was not the young man's first record. There had nearly been a hit under his real name.

Born in Richmond, VA in 1940 Billy Barnette was given up for adoption as an infant. Ending up in Roanoke, VA he traveled between foster homes and was a bit of a
delinquent. A background in boxing (something that the Burnette brothers shared)
began when the police drew him into the sport to try and keep him out of mischief. The skill came in handy over the years when he entered the rough and tumble world of music. Influenced by C&W and R&B, Billy began singing around Roanoke at spots that included the infamous Papa Joe's. His day gig in a clothing store led to his first recording. The shop's owner had a cousin at the Parkway label and off went a 20-year old Billy to record in Philly. American Bandstand was also based in the city and
Parkway had a close affiliation with Dick Clark, the show's host. Played for teenage judges, Billy's composition “Marlene” scored in the high 90s on the show's Rate A Record segment. Soon thereafter he received a call from Clark, who predicted that the tune would go big. But then shots rang out “the kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol” Parkway had a breakout hit; “The Bristol Stomp,” the next release after “Marlene.” Not having the resources to push two records heavily at the same time, the company went with The Dovells. But back in Roanoke Billy rocked on, recording the fabulous “Stomp Shout And Twist,” followed by the novelty “Billy The Kid” for MT. Vernon. Then came a stint in the U.S. Navy. Returning to dry land, the lad was snapped up by The Legends with a release on Warner Brothers in 1964.

That brings us - or shall we say him - to Hollywood. Although the Magic Lamp disc went nowhere, Dorsey Burnette paved the way for his younger “brother” to headline at a true Hollywood hot spot - The Red Velvet. Backed by The Stingers, remembered as “Four Blacks and 4 Mexicans,” Billy secured a reputation as a great Blue Eyed Soul singer and showman. “Somebody must've shot you up with black ink,” James Brown told him one night. Some of the records Billy recorded in the mid-Sixties verify this. Hollywood's Deville label, released the incredible “Blue Misery.” Though recorded in Tinsel Town a couple of other offerings ended up on Gold Standard out of Nashville. And soon Billy Joe was Nashville bound.

That's where we'll pick it up next time,
with Billy Joe Burnette in Music City.